THE BADGER 



door. There is generally the old bedding 

 left in one or two of the big chambers for 

 the lady who is to be brought to bed in 

 February, March, or April ; and there is 

 another turn-out after this interesting event 

 has been accomplished. About the middle 

 of June, in July and August, and as late 

 as October and November, an extraordinary 

 amount of fresh bedding will be taken in. 

 On summer evenings I have watched the 

 badgers at work, but regret that I cannot 

 substantiate the following description : 

 " Badgers when they Earth, after by digging 

 they have entred a good depth, for the 

 clearing of the Earth out, one of them falleth 

 on the back, and the other layeth Earth on 

 the belly, and so taking his hinder feet in the 

 mouth draweth the Belly-laden Badger out 

 of the Hole or Cave ; and having disburdened 

 herself, re-enters and doth the like till all be 

 finished." 



No, this is not how it is done, though it 

 is a curious sight to see the real thing. The 

 badger will come out, take a look round, and 



sit awhile close to the mouth of the hole. 

 48 



